Tuesday, August 11, 2015

L I F E

Today I found myself in a group of excited women who just got word that one of us was about to have her baby. I listened to the flood of excited commentary roll in and I felt a rush of happiness. I realized that almost every one of these women, myself included, had either experienced birth or pregnancy at some point in the past year or so. We are like a steady tide, ebbing, flowing, ebbing. Someone hoping for a baby, someone waiting for her baby, someone ready to go, someone with a new one in her arms. And then I imagined myself back a few years and realized it's almost always been that way with the women in the community around me. Someone hoping, someone waiting, someone ready, someone loving. I have played every role at some point, and so have they. I thought of the brand new babies around me and baby Joe... the friends who spent this last year pregnant with me. The ones who said "me too!!" when I told them I was pregnant. We were all on the heels on some other mother, and they were all on the heels of someone else.

And it made me so proud.

Proud because right now in our culture mostly all of what I see is heartbreaking and horrible when it comes to babies. I sometimes feel like I am drowning in it. Most of what I read makes me terribly sad, and terribly angry, and mostly lost. Lost because what more can I say? And who could I even say it to? And is anyone even listening at all anymore?  I wonder how my children will be able to grow and thrive and see beauty in a world that can often offer so little.

But then I think of this tide I keep riding and these babies that keep coming and I realize this, they, will win the war. These babies and their mothers giving giving giving. I go back to that conversation earlier today and am overwhelmed by the women in my life. How completely inspired I was hearing their happiness anticipating the birth of another baby... no matter how many have come and how many are coming; it seems we always want them. Even when we are scared or anxious or not ready, we want them. And sometimes when we find it hard to want them ourselves, the mothers around us nudge us back into the light. Yes, this is beautiful, yes it will be perfect.

All it is is a leaky faucet constantly dripping love. And I think it will flood this place far and wide someday. We might not see it now but we will.



33 comments:

  1. Amen, sister. From title to final word, this is perfect.

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  2. beautiful. And look at her looking at him...you're doing something very right, having these babies.

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  3. Oh Blythe! You made this pregnant waiting girl cry! So beautiful.

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  4. Beautiful and so encouraging--thank you!

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  5. So beautifully said. Thank you for writing this.

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  6. Yes! And as I like to say, babies are like chocolate: they're delicious, and they make you fat, but you always want one more. :)

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  7. Beautiful! I'm expecting my fourth and with a special needs toddler, another toddler and a tween, the surprise two lines made me feel like I had had the wind knocked out of me. We're now 15 weeks in and, of course, we've settled in to the joy of it all. I don't know how we'll manage once this little one arrives but we will. I know we will. And it will be lovely.

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    1. Yes, it will. It will be perfect.:) congratulations!!

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  8. "A leaky faucet constantly dripping love". So well said!

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  9. It was good to read these words of yours today. Thank you.

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  10. Glory glory hallelujah! The dark seems to overwhelm the Light these days but we will not be overcome.

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  11. Hello Blythe, I found your blog a while back, but have failed to introduce myself to you. I am a 21 year old nursing student living in the midwest with no children. You may find it strange that someone like me is so invested and inspired by your life considering the only commonality we share is Catholicism. However, I found out about you through your video on Soul Pancake's youtube channel, and it was at a time in my life when I was very much confused and doubting the catholic religion of which I had been raised in since birth. After reading your "Why I'm Catholic" blog post my mind was opened to the true values and beliefs of the church, and from getting to "virtually" know your awesome family, it has helped me grow so much in my catholic faith, and I cannot wait until the day comes that I can raise a beautiful family in the catholic church like you! Thank you for writing so eloquently and being such a great catholic/motherly role model!

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    1. ^!!!!!

      Never stop. All of the things. Thank you, Blythe!

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    2. This! This is why it is so so important for us to never stop sharing His light.

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    3. Sydney- thank you. I will remember to pray for you as you journey through life. Will you pray for me?! I need it:) I'm so glad you introduced yourself to me. I'm grateful you feel inspired. Xoxo

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  12. There is goodness, there is so much beauty despite the horribleness of our world. Love this post so much

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  13. I read this on the heels of reading another horrible article that left me feeling exactly as you describe. So glad you brought hope back to my fearful heart. Thank you, this is beautiful. <3

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  14. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  15. Beautiful. My mom says the French Canadians called this the "revenge of the cradle". Out populating the British with their large families. Your words are kinder and gentler, but same idea. :)

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  16. Love it! I'm also jealous, as I'm the only one in my homeschooling and in my Catholic community that keeps on having babies :/

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